RNC's below-the-belt shot at Nancy Pelosi

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The Republican National Committee posted an ad starring Nancy Pelosi, and James Bond villainess 'Pussy Galore.'
Composite image by POLITICO

She’s the 69-year-old speaker of the House of Representatives, second in the line of succession and the most powerful woman in U.S. history.

But when you see Nancy Pelosi, the Republican National Committee wants you to think “Pussy Galore.”

At least that’s the takeaway from a video released by the committee this week – a video that puts Pelosi side-by-side with the aforementioned villainess from the 1964 James Bond film “Goldfinger.”

The RNC video, which begins with the speaker’s head in the iconic spy-series gun sight, implies that Pelosi has used her feminine wiles to dodge the truth about whether or not she was briefed by the CIA on the use of waterboarding in 2002. While the P-word is never mentioned directly, in one section the speaker appears in a split screen alongside the Bond nemesis – and the video’s tagline is “Democrats Galore.”

The wisdom of equating the first woman speaker of the House with a character whose first name also happens to be among the most vulgar terms for a part of the female anatomy might be debated – if the RNC were willing to do so, which it was not. An RNC spokesperson refused repeated requests by POLITICO to explain the point of the video, or the intended connection between Pelosi and Galore.

But what isn’t open to debate is that the waterboarding conflict has been accompanied by a cascade of attacks on the speaker, not as a leader or a legislator, but as a woman.

Earlier this week, Pittsburgh radio host Jim Quinn referred to the speaker on his program as “this bitch”; last week, syndicated radio host Neal Boortz opined “how fun it is to watch that hag out there twisting in the wind.”

There has also been a steady stream of taunts about the speaker’s appearance, and whether it’s been surgically enhanced. On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Republican strategist Alex Castellanos said, “I think if Speaker Pelosi were still capable of human facial expression, we’d see she’d be embarrassed.”

Even erstwhile presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee took the time to pen a poem that begins:

“Here's a story about a lady named Nancy / A ruthless politician, but dressed very fancy.”

One might argue that face-lift and fashion gibes are just sauce for the goose these days – especially given the president’s crack about John Boehner’s perma-tan during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

Not only is it bad form, say Democrats and women’s advocates, it’s bad politics.

“They can’t seem to distinguish between a backroom smirk among the boys and something you put out in public,” says former Hillary Clinton senior adviser Ann Lewis of the RNC video.

“It’s an attempt to demean your opponent, rather than debate them. If they’re serious that this is an issue of national security, then you’d think that one would want to debate it on the merits,” she says. “It’s almost as if they can’t help themselves.”

Of course, not all – or even most – of the recent attacks on Pelosi have involved her gender. Indeed, inside the Beltway, the criticism of the speaker has been almost entirely above the belt. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has called for Pelosi’s resignation without making cracks about her looks. Former Vice President Dick Cheney called her out Thursday without taking note of her gender. House Minority Leader John Boehner – who wants to move more slowly against Pelosi than some of his more aggressive House brethren – has kept up the pressure on her without marginalizing her as a woman.

Readers' Comments (2225)

My own opinion is that if the congress should not investigate Pelosi without also investigating the Gonzalez justice department and all the lawyers who wrote the opinions, the CIA and the truthfulness of their reports and memos, and the office of Dick Cheney and his involvement in torture and other illegal actions. Either investigate them all or drop the whole thing.

Obama tried to let it drop. The GOP returned the favor by attacking Pelosi.

It took three bodyguards to ensure she resisted the urge to dig herself deeper into the embroglio Pelosi has created with five variations of accounts of her briefings. Based on her actions and her impuning of the CIA, I would say she should expect ridicule.

“They can’t seem to distinguish between a backroom smirk among the boys and something you put out in public,” says former Hillary Clinton senior adviser Ann Lewis of the RNC video.

“It’s an attempt to demean your opponent, rather than debate them. If they’re serious that this is an issue of national security, then you’d think that one would want to debate it on the merits,” she says. “It’s almost as if they can’t help themselves.”

This is their one and only MO these days.

Michael Steele, the head of the Republican Party, just burped out a real goodie yesterday....or should I say yet another real goodie.....

Oddly enough, his statement was something along the lines about how President Obama was not "vetted" and that he was only elected because he is a black man.

Hey, Michael--we get it that you are speaking from your weakness. We all understand that the one and only reason you have your job is because you are a black man. Your very presence is proof positive that the GOP is reactionary--the Democrats got a black guy who is wildly popular, so the Republicans, fresh out of ideas, cadged the brilliant "plan" to get their own. Kind of like the Palin pick was a reaction to Hillary Clinton's popularity. This is glaringly obvious, as we all know that you are the first head of the RNC who is not trusted with the checkbook. Gee, wonder what THAT could mean?

Recycling Hillary Clinton's screed from the primary season about the lack of vetting is another potent reminder that the Republicans are living in and idea-free zone and that they are inherently LAZY.

Seems the Dems can dish it out but not take it. Where were all the women's organizations when Sarah Palin was being picked apart? The crickets were chirping. Pelosi has Botox treatments. No one looks that unnatural at the age of 69. That's fair game. Biden has them too, and has had his share of wisecracks about it, as well as his hair plugs. It isn't just Pelosi that gets picked on.

Why is the Speaker under attack by these Republicans thugs. If you believe her or not, will all these awful attacks change anyone minds. The tasteless, tacky, morons are at it again, trying to bring down the Speaker by their dirty antics. Shame on you.

Nancy Pelosi is a joke. This has nothing to do with her being a woman. She is a disgrace to our country. Between Pelosi, Biden, and Obama, the world is laughing at what this nation has become. A bunch of inept JOKERS.

Seems the Dems can dish it out but not take it. Where were all the women's organizations when Sarah Palin was being picked apart? The crickets were chirping. Pelosi has Botox treatments. No one looks that unnatural at the age of 69. That's fair game. Biden has them too, and has had his share of wisecracks about it, as well as his hair plugs. It isn't just Pelosi that gets picked on.

This is the root of the GOP's entire problem--the lazy knee-jerk laser focus on the surface without real examination of the substance.

The odd obsession with the superficials...Palin was chosen because she is a woman, and for no other reason. That became apparent for all (except the slobbering conservative male of the species), the moment she opened her mouth.

Michael Steele was chosen only because he is black. Again, he speaks, and there is a problem. Then we all learn that he is not trusted with the checkbook. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

Let's have a wide ranging investigation into Bush era torture. Let's find out who new what and when.

Nancy and Obumbler do not want that to happen. Pelosi knew about and kept quiet about the waterboarding and Obumbler won't release the memos to show that it was effective.

PS . I spent some time in Ohio recently and see the state is bleeding more profusely since Obumbler's economic package kicked in. Cities laying off cops and firemen, plants closing and unemployment over 10% statewide. Thank god you can still grow corn.

Andie; come on.....a full article based on the sexism of critics that are calling out Nancy Pelosi? You have to be kidding.

You cite 2 also-ran radio hosts and a juvenile video as evidence. Not exactly compelling. The DNC 20-year-olds pump out juvenile videos every day and I don't see Michael Steele whining about it.

The Speaker doesn't know whether she's coming or going, has insulted dedicated operatives inside the government and then lied about publicly. Now, she won't even talk about it...coherently, at least. And the writer thinks that the criticism of the Speaker is all about gender? Please.

So now, it appears, one of Politco's writers feels the need to play the don't-beat-up-on-the-girl card. I think the writer, and many of the sources in the story, are over-reacting. The avalanche of criticism is justified....99% of which is totally gneder-nuetral.

The tasteless, tacky, morons are at it again, trying to bring down the Speaker by their dirty antics

The republicans would be wise to let her self-destruct on her own. She has been doing a good job of it recently. They need to be patient. History has shown that democrats are their own worst ememy when in power.

You stated Palin was chosen because she is a woman, and Steele because he was black. I think you have it backwards. Obama was chosen because he is black, and Pelosi, possibly because she is a woman, (God knows how she got her job)

I don't like her because she failed to bring the Bush admin to heel when she had the chance. But to go after her when the real criminals run free is absurd. Bush, cheney rummy and crew should be in the dock now.